Saucony Ride 18 Review: Finding Comfort in Simplicity

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

When heading to your local coffee shop, will you order a simple, straightforward drink or will you ask for a double-whip half-caf triple-shot frappuccino? If what you really want is a hot, comforting beverage with that happy buzz of caffeine, you can get your fix with a quality cup of coffee served black or with a splash of milk. Some people love the sugar and foam, but others find it's too much— it gets in the way by giving them a stomach ache or sugar crash.

If you’re a black coffee kind of runner, you may find that the Saucony Ride 18 is your kind of shoe. When it comes to the Saucony Ride franchise, simplicity is the name of the game.

Its ample cushioning keeps you comfortable while still allowing you to feel the ground beneath your feet. And the cushioning, Saucony’s proprietary PWRRUN+ formula, is not too squishy nor too stiff—it’s just right.

The latest version of the Ride, available January 1, features minimal updates save for a slightly lighter weight. Is continued simplicity a good thing when it comes to this franchise, or is the Ride 18 a bit boring? Read on to hear our thoughts.

The Saucony Ride 18 boasts a PWRRUN+ midsole, a polyurethane-based foam Saucony touts as their most comfortable and durable formula. While the midsole didn’t knock our socks off (which is maybe a good thing mid-run), it gets the job done.

I would describe the ride of the Ride 18 as “fine.” It feels comfortable enough so that I’m not thinking about my feet, but not so comfortable that I am thinking about them. My first few strides felt uncomfortably firm (I prefer super squishy shoes), but my feet quickly warmed up and I forgot I was wearing them as my mind wandered during my four mile run.

While the shoes are a little bit on the firm side, they have nice flexibility in the forefoot which made my heel-to-toe transitions feel smooth. I did four sets of 20-second strides at the end of my run and, again, the shoes felt fine. They’re firm enough to provide a solid platform to push off from, but they don’t feel propulsive in any way–which is okay; that’s not what they’re made for.

Travis agreed, although he thought the shoes were on the softer side.

“While this isn’t my favorite shoe I’ve tried this year, there’s nothing bad I can really say about it,” he says. “It’s fairly lightweight, so I was able to pick the pace up a bit without feeling like I was dragging my feet. The PWRRUN+ foam is surprisingly responsive while offering a tad bit of softness to it.”

Tom was our third wear tester, so he’ll act as a tiebreaker.

“The ride for me was pretty straightforward: firm and responsive,” he says. “What you put in is what you get out, which I like as a runner who prefers a bit more ground feel and control as opposed to a shoe that’s too squishy or feels like it wants to do the running for you. The midsole also felt light and airy on my feet which was nice when I wanted to pick up the pace.”

While the Ride 18 may seem a bit mundane compared to other, more innovative shoes on the market, there’s something to be said for a classic, traditional trainer that can be worn day in and day out for a variety of runs. Saucony calls the Ride the most durable shoe in their line and it’s easy to see why. It’s cushioned enough for long runs and, as our reviewers noted, it feels decent during faster paces, too. Plus, it’s relatively lightweight.

While I described the Ride’s midsole as “fine,” I was really blown away by the upper. It’s the same engineered mesh material as the previous version, but small details give it an extra luxurious feeling.

The tongue is plush and padded, and the material inside the heel collar feels like silk. I noticed something interesting as I was lacing these up–there are three lacing eyelets on each side rather than the typical two. Most running shoes have the main lacing eyelet and then an extra one should runners want to tie the marathon loop, but the Ride 18 has three. I can’t imagine how or why a runner would need three but Travis, a former outfitter at Fleet Feet Pittsburgh, had some ideas.

“The third eyelet on the top is a cool idea to help runners or walkers open up the fit if they need more space for a higher instep or slightly higher-volume foot,” he says. “Saucony shoes, in my opinion, are one of the best brands when it comes to dialing in the fit. The Ride 18 continues this tradition, striking a great balance between simplicity, lightness and comfortability."

Tom, who has slightly wide feet, also enjoyed the fit of the upper.

“The upper was my favorite part of this shoe,” he says. “It felt roomy enough throughout the midfoot and toe box for my slightly wider feet and stayed comfortable, even towards the end of my runs. The smooth materials and soft padding around the heel collar made my feet feel at home right away. The gusseted tongue was probably my favorite part of the fit—it felt like a nice hug and helped me feel connected to the midsole in a way that made the shoe feel like a natural extension of my feet.”

If you aren’t sure about your feet’s width, instep or volume, your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

Not much has changed between the Ride 17 and the Ride 18, save for a slight weight decrease. The shoe still uses the same PWRRUN+ midsole as the previous model, the same engineered mesh material in the upper and the same stack height (the distance between your feet and the ground) and heel-to-toe drop (the distance in height between your heel and forefoot).

While I enjoyed the Ride 17, I think the Ride 18 feels slightly more premium thanks to the added cushioning in the heel and ankle collar. The lower weight helps the shoe feel more versatile, too.

We took a look at some comparable models to see how they stack up against the Ride 18. Here’s what we found.

Remember how I compared the Ride 18 to a simple cup of high-quality coffee with a splash of milk? Well, the Brooks Ghost 16 and the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 26 are each their respective brands’ versions of that same cup of coffee.

All three shoes are very similar in terms of weight and stack height and, while the Brooks Ghost 16 has a higher stack height, they all offer a similar ride. I will say that the Ride 18 has the most plush, comfortable upper, and Travis found it to offer the most versatile ride.

If you appreciate the simple things in life, you’ll enjoy the Ride 18. For runners seeking a moderately cushioned shoe with a bit of ground feel, this is a great option. It’s versatile enough if you only want one shoe in your lineup as it can handle a variety of distances and paces thanks to its relatively light weight and balanced soft-to-firm ratio.

I’d also recommend the Ride 18 to new runners who aren’t sure about their running shoe preferences just yet. If you think the Ride 18 is too soft, maybe you prefer firm, rigid shoes. If you think it’s too firm, it’s a good hint that you’ll enjoy a soft, squishy midsole. Or maybe you just want more–or less–cushioning overall.

Lastly, for runners who need some more space in the forefoot, the Ride 18 is available in wide sizing (D for women, 2E for men).